Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III twists his knees as he reaches for the loose ball after a low snap during the second half of the NFL wild card defeat against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, 6 January, 2013. Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP

Robert Griffin III cut a lonely figure after finally succumbing to the knee injury that dogged the Washington Redskins' bid to overcome the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC wildcard playoffs.

RG3 led the Redskins to a first quarter 14-0 lead but from then on was swamped by the Seahawks defense. Seattle scored 24-0 unanswered points to advance to a matchup with the NFC's No1 seed Atlanta Falcons.

Seattle's Russell Wilson outdueled Griffin in the much-anticipated clash of outstanding rookie quarterbacks, but the dynamic Redskins' QB was hampered by a month-old knee injury and forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter.

After a pair of four-yard touchdown passes by Griffin on Washington's first two possessions, Seattle's defense shut them down and Wilson brought the Seahawks back to 14-13 by halftime and added 11 points in the fourth quarter for the victory.

It was the first road playoff victory for the Seahawks in 30 years and propelled them to a divisional round clash against the Falcons next Sunday.Washington moved through a Seattle defense that led the NFL in fewest points allowed in the regular season with ease at the start of the game as Griffin engineered scoring drives of 80 yards and 54 yards culminating in short touchdown passes to Evan Royster and Logan Paulsen.

The Seahawks took charge in the second quarter, dominating play with a pair of field goals and an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive capped by a four-yard TD pass from Wilson to fullback Michael Robinson.

Seattle continued to dominate after half-time, but squandered points when running back Marshawn Lynch fumbled at the one-yard line. Washington clung to their one-point advantage, despite failing to mount any offensive threats, with Griffin limping and under pressure. A brilliant, 27-yard touchdown run by Lynch finally put the Seahawks ahead and tight end Zach Miller caught a Wilson pass in the end zone for a two-point conversion to make it 21-14.

Facing a second-and-22 close to his own end zone, Griffin could not handle a poor snap and Seattle recovered on the five-yard line. The Redskins' quarterback limped off the field not to return.

Seattle could not punch it in, but settled for a 22-yard field goal that put the game out of reach at 24-14.

Griffin's withdrawal came too late for backup Kirk Cousins to get Washington back into the game.

Griffin went 10-of-19 passes for 84 yards, two TDs and one interception. But evidence of how hampered RG3 was comes in his usually impressive rushing stats: just 21 yards from five carries, with the QB looking distinctly uncomfortable throughout.